Mr Janek Januszkiewicz has been appointed to the Editorial Board of the Aesthetic Surgery Journal
Janek Januszkiewicz has been appointed to the Editorial Board of the Aesthetic Surgery Journal. This is the most widely read international scientific journal dedicated to aesthetic surgery and is the official publication of the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery as well as more than a dozen other national plastic or aesthetic surgery societies around the world.
Mr Janek Januszkiewicz - International speaker on breast implant surgery
Janek Januszkiewicz has been invited to participate as a panelist and lecturer at the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery Annual Scientific Meeting in Vancouver, May 2012 where he will speak on the topics relating to breast implant surgery. He has also been asked to contribute as a faculty member at the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery Bi-ennial Congress in Geneva, September 2012
Mr Januszkiewicz is the NZ National Secretary for the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ISAPS) as well as Chairman of the ISAPS Membership Committee.
ISAPS as a global leader in plastic surgery has a commitment to patient safety and education. It has raised serious concerns over the increasing numbers of complications occurring after patients travel away from their home country for 'cheap' cosmetic surgery 'holidays'.
There is a growing concern that patients are being treated surgically by incompetent and untrained individuals – sometimes not even physicians. Several countries around the world including Germany, France, Italy, Russia, Mexico, Colombia, South Africa, Denmark and Canada now have regulations controlling which doctors are allowed to perform cosmetic procedures on patients and in what facility. Under the auspices of the Comité Européen de Normalisation (CEN), a Europe-wide effort is currently underway to set standards that will protect plastic surgery patients.
The following is a press release from ISAPS on this topic.
Patients have a right to safe surgery
Hanover, NH, USA – August 11, 2011 - The remarkable rise in medical tourism, where patients travel out of their home country for their plastic surgery, has put into question the foundation of the patient-doctor relationship and is endangering many who seek low cost surgery. “We see travel agencies brokering surgery for their clients with surgeons they have never met. The patients have no assurance that their surgeon is properly trained or qualified to perform the procedure they will undergo, and all too often little attention is paid to post-surgical care,” says Catherine Foss, Executive Director of the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ISAPS). Complication rates for surgeries performed under these circumstances are alarming. An article in the August issue of Aesthetic Surgery Journal, “Complications from International Surgery Tourism,” referred to a recent US study showing an increase in post-surgical complication rates in patients returning from surgery overseas. Statistics presented three years ago by ISAPS member Professor James Frame (UK) during the Medical Tourism Association meeting in San Francisco reported a 20% complication rate in patients returning to the UK after surgery abroad. In quite a few cases, the complications were sufficiently serious to require that patients go directly to a hospital for care on their return.
The Patient Safety Diamond devised by then ISAPS President, Dr. Foad Nahai (US), and presented at the ISAPS Congress in 2010 bases the concept of safe surgery on four factors: the patient, the surgeon, the procedure and the facility. The patient should be a good candidate for the requested surgery. The surgeon must be properly trained and credentialed. The procedure should be appropriate for the patient. The surgical facility should be an accredited and a proven safe venue with properly trained staff and emergency preparedness.
When the World Health Organization (WHO) introduced the Safe Surgery Saves Lives initiative promoting their Surgical Safety Checklist www.who.int/patientsafety/safesurgery/en/ ISAPS was one of the initial endorsing organizations at the launch of this program in Washington, DC in June of 2008. A recent study published in the New England Journal of Medicine showed that use of the 19-question checklist reduced surgical complications by more than one third and surgical deaths by almost half in the test hospitals as compared to control hospitals. This simple form is used much as a pilot uses a check list before taking a plane onto a runway for takeoff. Patients need to ask if their surgeon and hospital uses this tool.
In 2006, current ISAPS President Dr. Joao C. Sampaio Goes (Brazil) developed “key guidelines” for those patients who do decide to travel for their surgery, posted on their website www.isaps.org Several other organizations have since adapted these for their websites. Dr. Jan Poell (Switzerland), the current President of ISAPS, explains the need for this information as: "Consumers around the world have looked to ISAPS for over 40 years for the most accurate and reliable information about qualified plastic surgeons and advice about procedures. ISAPS provides a worldwide standard for consumers to reference when traveling for aesthetic plastic surgery."
There is a misconception that anyone with an MD can safely perform any surgical procedure. Legislation around the world is changing to reflect a growing concern that patients are being treated surgically by incompetent and untrained individuals – sometimes not even physicians. As described in the current issue of ISAPS News, several countries including Italy, Russia, Mexico, Colombia are Canada are leading the way with new regulations controlling who can perform what specific procedure on which patients and in what facility. This is also the case in Denmark, a front-runner in strict regulation of all private medical clinics and surgical facilities - indeed closing some that were sub-standard. Similarly, Germany and France have had strict regulations for many years. Under the auspices of the Comité Européen de Normalisation (CEN), a Europe-wide effort is currently underway to set standards that will protect plastic surgery patients.
A new insurance program developed in the UK, endorsed by ISAPS and underwritten by Lloyd’s of London, the first of its kind in the world, provides complications insurance for plastic surgeons globally to help protect their patients. This insurance is only available if the surgeon is a member of ISAPS. A directory of surgeons already participating in this program is now available at www.surgeryshield.com A second insurance product will soon be available for patients to be launched in the UK first with expansion to other countries later. Coverage will include travel insurance and will respond in cases of complications from aesthetic surgery either at home or abroad. This new insurance program requires that patients are screened at home before traveling abroad for surgery to be sure they are appropriate candidates for the procedure they seek. The intention is that a consultation with a surgeon at home will provide counseling against travel for complicated surgical procedures. The insurance will only respond if surgical complications of surgery by one ISAPS member surgeon are treated either by that same surgeon of by another ISAPS member surgeon. A patient requiring remedial or corrective treatment once back in their country of residence will be directed to an ISAPS surgeon approved to carry out the specific treatment indicated.
It is important to stress that complications are not malpractice. Complications of plastic surgery can result in hematomas, post-surgical infection, slow wound drainage or healing problems, tissue necrosis, or suture dehiscence. Some complications have very poor or no resolution and the results can never be corrected.
Ms. Foss reports that the number of patients contacting her office to check on surgeons’ credentials shows a growing sophistication among patients who want assurance that their surgeon is properly trained and competent. “The international medical community has a lot of work to do to educate patients that they have the right to ask if their surgeon is a member of their National Society, is board certified (or the equivalent) and is trained to perform the specific procedure the patient wants.” The number of cases where patients suffer at the hands of incompetent doctors, or doctors attempting procedures they are not properly trained to perform, points to this growing need to educate the public about their own surgical safety. No surgery should be taken lightly. Traveling abroad for surgery just to save money can lead to poor outcomes, often with avoidable complications, little or no recourse to return for additional treatment, and sometimes resulting in tragic consequences.
The forty-one year old International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery is the largest international society of individual plastic surgeons with 2,003 current members in 92 countries, and growing by more than 200 members each year. Surgeons undergo a strict application process to determine their qualifications to join the society. The ISAPS mission is twofold: the continuing education of plastic surgeons in latest techniques in the field of aesthetic (cosmetic) surgery and medicine - and the promotion of patient safety.
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CONTACT:
Catherine Foss, Executive Director
International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery
45 Lyme Road, Suite 304
Hanover, NH 03755
T – 603-643-2325
F – 603-643-1444
E – isaps@conmx.net
W – www.isaps.org
Mr Januszkiewicz attends Breast Augmentation Workshop in Singapore
In April Mr Januszkiewicz attended a breast augmentation workshop in Singapore hosted by Allergan Corporation. The workshop was led by Dr Charles Randquist, a Swedish plastic surgeon who shared his insights on breast implant surgery with the small group of Australian and New Zealand plastic surgeons attending.
Amongst the attendees were other current or former Presidents and office bearers of the Australian and New Zealand Plastic Surgery Societies which made for lively discussion amongst these senior plastic surgeons and the lecturer. There was opportunity outside of the workshop for further broad discussion on the status of plastic surgery in New Zealand and Australia.
All in all it was a great opportunity to network with colleagues and share ideas and clinical insights in the area of breast augmentation surgery.
World Wide Plastic Surgery Statistics
Late last year the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery produced a global survey of plastic surgeons and procedures in which surgeon participants focused on the number and type of surgical and non surgical procedures they performed in the year before. It provides a snapshot into world wide trends in plastic surgery.
Janek Januszkiewicz is the New Zealand National Representative to ISAPS and also Chairman of the Society’s Membership Committee. He says the ISAPS survey marks the first time reliable international plastic surgery data has been obtained and analysed by independent statistic specialists.
Most popular surgical & non surgical procedures –
Liposuction (18.8% of all surgical procedures) overtook breast augmentation (17%) as the most popular of the surgical procedures followed by blepharoplasty (upper or lower eyelid lift, 13.5%), rhinoplasty (9.4%), abdominoplasty (tummy tuck, 7.3%), breast reduction (6%), breast lift (5.7%), face lift (4.7%). The greatest number of surgical procedures were unsurprisingly in the United States but with China very close behind followed by Brazil and overall 85% of procedures were in women with 15% in men. The popularity of procedures varied somewhat by country but the general trends in New Zealand followed the global ones. This included the growth of non surgical procedures, the most popular being neuromodulator injections (ie Botox or Dysport) and facial fillers using hyaluronic acid (such as Juvederm, Restylane and so forth). Interestingly in our nearest neighbour, Australia, blepharoplasty surgery was the most popular, more than double that of breast augmentation which was third highest in popularity after rhinoplasty. This was the only country in this survey where eyelid surgery was more common than any other procedure.
The survey represents a credible and reliable base line of information that will be useful to medical professionals and the media in the future. Over 20,000 plastic surgeons internationally were invited to participate and based on the responses received it is estimated that there are just over 30,000 Board certified (or national equivalent) qualified plastic surgeons in practice around the world today.
ISAPS was founded 40 years ago at the United Nations in New York with the mission to continuously educate member surgeons in the latest procedures, disseminate accurate and current information to the public and media and promote safe surgery. Its members are leaders in the specialty and 91 countries are represented in the Society. To qualify for membership in ISAPS plastic surgeons must undergo many years of surgical specialty training, pass qualifying and certifying exams in their respective countries and must be members in good standing with their local national societies of plastic surgery. They agree to abide by the high ethical standards of these societies and before being accepted into membership for ISAPS undergo a rigorous evaluation process to establish their qualifications, capabilities and commitment to the highest standards of ethics and patient safety.
Janek Januszkiewicz
April 2011
Janek Januszkiewicz - Guest Speaker at the Australasian Surgical Trainees Teaching Conference
Janek Januszkiewicz - Guest Speaker at the Australasian Surgical Trainees Teaching Conference -
Janek Januszkiewicz has just returned from two days in Sydney where he was the invited Guest Speaker for the Australasian Advanced Surgical Trainees Annual Teaching Conference. This gathers all of the post graduate plastic surgery trainees from hospitals in Australia and New Zealand for a week of focused education in preparation for their exit examinations to qualify as plastic surgeons.
Dr Januszkiewicz gave five presentations of 45 minutes each on the subjects of breast augmentation, breast reduction, combined breast implant and breast lift surgery and congenital breast problems such as constricted breast anomalies, Poland’s syndrome, breast hypoplasia, and the management of breast asymmetries.
Janek Januszkiewicz
9 March 2011
Janek Januszkiewicz participates in International Breast Implant Surgery Workshop in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
In February 2011 Janek Januszkiewicz participated in the first International Plastic Surgery Workshop organised by Silimed which gathered 200 of the leading plastic surgeons from all parts of the world in Rio de Janeiro to discuss new developments and trends in breast implant surgery. Participants included plastic surgeons from all continents including those as geographically separate as New Zealand and Italy or as politically remote from each other as Israel and Jordan.
The workshop included interactive discussion by the surgeon participants moderated by a panel of eminent Brazilian plastic surgeons. One fascinating aspect of this international gathering was the fact that all of this discussion took place in English, Portuguese and Spanish with each participant wearing translation ear pieces that provided instant live translation for all three languages so that it was a truly seamless experience of exchanging ideas with international colleagues without any barriers to communication.
The workshop included live demonstrations of breast implant surgery linked audiovisually to the audience with the opportunity to ask questions of the operating surgeon in real time. The following day included surgical demonstrations of gluteal implant surgery for buttock augmentation which has become increasingly popular in some countries, notably in South America.
A further highlight of the meeting was visiting the Silimed manufacturing facilities in Rio de Janeiro. This was a fascinating insight into the manufacturing of breast implants from start to finish and the rigorous quality assurance processes and accompanying modern technical advances that go into safe and reliable medical devices. Most of the attention was on the polyurethane foam coated implants which have been in use since the 1970s but have evolved considerably over that time. These are silicone filled implants that have a medical grade polyurethane foam bonded onto the outer shell which offers advantages over traditional silicone surface textured implants including reduction in capsular contracture rates long term and significant reduction in the risk of implant rotation or displacement. Silimed is so confident in their product that they offer a free of charge lifetime guarantee of replacement of any ruptured breast implant and a ten year replacement guarantee for polyurethane implants in the event of capsular contracture, rotation or displacement. Seeing the passion and commitment of the scientists and factory team behind the manufacturing of these implants was both reassuring and informative.
It was not all work as Dr Januszkiewicz and all the other surgeons enjoyed an afternoon trip to Corcovado (Sugar Loaf) which is accessed by a spectacular cable car ride and boasts stunning views of Rio de Janeiro including the famous Ipanema and Copacabana beaches. This was preceded by a luncheon at one of the famous Brazilian Churrascaria restaurants in which dozens of varieties of grilled meats are brought to the table in an endless feast of barbecue.
Over the last 12 months Dr Januszkiewicz has been turning more and more to the polyurethane foam surface coated silicone breast implants for patients seeking breast enhancement and for women requiring breast reconstruction after cancer treatment. The results have been pleasing and are offering even higher levels of safety and reliability to these patients as techniques and products continue to improve.
Janek Januszkiewicz
February 2011
ISAPS Meeting San Francisco
Janek Januszkiewicz attended the 20th Biennial Congress of the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery in San Francisco during August.
Janek is currently Chairman of the Membership Committee for this international organisation of plastic surgeons established in 1970 at the United Nations headquarters in New York as a body charged with promoting the highest standards of professional practice, patient care and education in aesthetic plastic surgery around the world.
The Congress is an opportunity for plastic surgeons around the world to gather for scientific and social interchange. The world’s leading innovators in plastic surgery were there to share the latest advances in their countries.
The meeting began with a first of its kind Global Summit on patient safety bringing together leaders from a variety of fields including plastic surgeons, anaesthetists, legislators and commercial representatives all with a common goal to drive forward the ISAPS key mission of patient safety.
It was attended by over 1,300 practising plastic surgeons from 83 different countries during which 386 scientific papers were presented on a variety of topics. Of notable interest was the advances in the science of fat grafting and stem cell research, how it will apply both to reconstructive and cosmetic applications in plastic surgery.
Our plastic surgery nurses Karen Coubray and Karen Baker were fortunate to also attend the Congress and share first hand in the latest advances in the world of plastic surgery.
Participation in the Congress confirmed that the procedures and techniques of our surgeons at the New Zealand Institute of Plastic and Cosmetic Surgery are at the leading edge of global aesthetic surgery trends and advances.
Recognising Changes in Facial Aging
All of us can recognise the changes we see in facial aging. These include a deterioration in skin quality, a deepening of facial lines and a sagging or loosening of the tissues around the eyes, jowls and neck. This manifests as excess skin and, in the past, traditional facelift surgery focused only on removal of this skin.
Less well recognised but equally important changes of facial aging include the loss or redistribution of facial fat volume that occurs over time, as well as changes in the bony framework of the face (by absorption or loss of bone). Simple skin removal by surgery will only address some of the aging features. Depending on the needs of the individual there are a variety of other measures, both surgical and non-surgical that combine to create a more natural and complete solution.
A common theme is the addition of facial volume either through the use of synthetic fillers or tissue grafts (such as fat grafts) from the patient herself. The role of facial volume loss and replacement receives as much attention today as did talk of tissue descent in the past. Now there is less emphasis on pulling skin tight to stretch deep creases and folds, and instead more emphasis on restoring a youthful soft tissue shape to the face. This is complemented by modern skin care technologies.
This change in emphasis is fundamental to the modern treatment of facial aging. It is an increasingly sophisticated three-dimensional or “volumetric” concept that is helping contemporary plastic surgeons avoid the artificial or stretched unusual appearances seen in the past and instead achieve more natural looking and harmonious results.
The choices available to today’s consumer are wide-ranging and sometimes confusing. ‘Facelift’ is a catch-all phrase that is easily tossed about but can have very different meanings – ranging from a basic skin tightening to the modern multidimensional approach to facial rejuvenation described above. It is important that patients considering facelift surgery understand these differences when making choices about their treatment.
Dog Attack Victim
Carolina Anderson is a young victim of a vicous dog attack, watch her story on TVNZ's Sunday.
Surgeons report Mr Janek Januszkiewicz
February saw the largest ever gathering of aesthetic surgeons Down Under when more than 1200 of the world’s plastic surgeons came to Melbourne for the 19th Congress of the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ISAPS). Membership of ISAPS is by invitation only and restricted to surgeons recognised as leaders in the field of aesthetic surgery.
Our own Australasian Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS) was the local host society for this major international event and as the current president I had the honour and privilege of delivering the opening address to attendees and guests at the welcome ceremony.
This congress provided an opportunity for plastic surgeons from diverse cultural backgrounds to share their scientific knowledge in the educational programme. Highlights included new paradigm shifts in our thinking relating to the regenerative possibilities of adipose-derived stem cells in fat grafting. There is mounting evidence that these ‘magic’ cells (most plentiful in fat) can reverse tissue damage, improve scar quality and undo aging changes in the skin and surrounding tissues. The scientific programme included keynote lectures, panels and presentations of the highest quality.
All of our surgeons and four of our plastic surgery nursing staff from the New Zealand Institute of Plastic and Cosmetic Surgery attended the congress. As patients of ours you can take confidence from the fact that you are in the care of experts who are recognised internationally for their contributions to plastic surgery, and are up to date with the newest trends and procedures.
